The Rétrospective 00-15 cuvée from Goutorbe-Bouillot is a journey through time, a liquid work of art limited to just 976 bottles. This Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay) is the result of a "Perpetual Reserve" initiated in 2000 and continued until 2015. The principle? "Old wine educates young wine." With no malolactic fermentation, fining, or filtration, this is a wine of truth that combines the depth of old vintages with the tension of Damery chalk. A champagne for meditation, spicy and mineral, dosed Extra-Brut for absolute purity.
The production of the Rétrospective 00-15
This cuvée is 100% Chardonnay, sourced exclusively from the hillsides of Damery (Marne Valley). It is produced using a method that is rare in Champagne:
La Réserve Perpétuelle (2000-2015)
This is not a simple blend, but a Solera. Since 2000, each new harvest has been added to the reserve from previous years. The cuvée is therefore composed of 100% reserve wines covering 16 years of harvests. The new vintages bring freshness, while the older ones provide patina and complexity.
Purist Vinification
To preserve the energy of these wines over the long term, the estate has made the radical choice to block malolactic fermentation. The wine underwent neither fining nor filtration before being bottled in March 2017. The dosage is Extra-Brut (2 g/L), allowing the wine to express itself without artifice.
Tasting notes
Nose
The nose is open and complex. It combines aromas of flowers and fresh pears with more evolved, spicy (white pepper) and slightly smoky notes, reflecting the long aging of the oldest wines in the solera.
Palate
The attack is supple, then the wine unfolds a full-bodied and consistent palate. This richness is immediately balanced by the delicate freshness of the acidity (linked to the absence of "malo"), providing a feeling of serenity. It is a palate that is round, dynamic and tender at the same time.
Finish
The finish is harmonious, long and warm, structured by a hint of minerality typical of the Damery terroir.
Food pairing suggestions
- Oysters in jelly
- Salmon carpaccio
- Sea bass tartare with citrus fruits
- Roasted cod fillet
- Bresse chicken with cream sauce
- Risotto with scallops
- 24-month aged Comté
- Farmhouse Chaource
- Parmesan shortbread cookies
Storage and serving tips
Aging potential
Although made from older vintages, the freshness of this cuvée (without malolactic fermentation) gives it a bright future. You can enjoy it now for its complexity or leave it in the cellar for 3 to 5 years, or even longer, to accentuate its spicy and roasted notes.
Serving suggestions
Serve this cuvée at a temperature of 10°C to 12°C. A fairly curved flute (or white wine glass) is recommended to allow the wine to breathe and reveal the layers of vintages that compose it.
Anecdote about this cuvée
The name "Rétrospective 00-15" perfectly illustrates the concept of the "Perpetual Reserve" (or Solera). Imagine a vat that is never completely emptied: each year, part of the wine is drawn off for bottling and the volume is replenished with the year's harvest. Thus, in this bottle, the soul of the 2000, 2001, 2002... and 2015 harvests coexist and harmonize.
